editorial
- January 31, 2024We in Luverne have been proud of our local artist, Andrew Prekker, who submitted the winning proposal for Minnesota’s new state flag. Of more than 2,000 proposals, his was used as the base for the final flag design. It was a process that started more than four months ago with the goal of having the new flag and emblem in the State Capitol buildings by May 11, which is Statehood Day. Why did we…
- January 24, 2024January is Poverty Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to take stock of personal beliefs and biases. We in Rock County have a proud heritage of hard-working ancestors who withstood the hardships of wars and wilderness to build the communities and livelihoods we know today. And we’ve heard time and time again that anyone can succeed if they work hard enough. The subconscious message then is…
- January 17, 2024People in the communities of Rock County are known for their generosity — of time, talents, money and more. Another way to be generous is to give blood. It’s the one way to have the most impact in the sense it saves lives, literally. According to the American Red Cross, blood supplies have fallen to critically low levels, and many areas now face emergency blood shortages. In recent weeks, the…
- December 20, 2023Christians believe “God so loved the world that he gave his only son” to take away the sins of the world (John 3:16), and as such, Christmas is a celebration of the arrival of Jesus as told in the Bible’s second chapter of Luke: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. … And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to…
- December 13, 2023It’s a wonderful time of year for giving and receiving gifts, and here in Rock County we have generosity down to a science — or at least a stroke of the keypad. The 2023 Christmas gift drive for our students in Luverne schools is wrapping up, and 44 families in the district will receive extra presents under their trees. Through the School Giving Tree, each child will receive two gifts and each…
- December 06, 2023Construction has started on Luverne’s giant nutcracker, and our social media announcement stirred a long string of comments, both positive and negative. As is the case with many community developments, some will support new initiatives, some will voice sincere reservations, and others are never happy. We welcome all kinds of feedback, but we can’t abide personal attacks, expletives and…
- November 15, 2023Shop online safely this holiday season The holiday season often brings a surge in cyber-attacks, and local banks are alerting customers of threats to watch for and tips to navigate the online world safely during the holidays. Phishing attacks: Phishing attacks involve cybercriminals posing as legitimate entities, often via emails or messages. They aim to trick recipients into revealing…
- November 08, 2023Veterans Day is observed annually on Nov. 11, regardless of which day of the week it falls on. This year Veterans Day is on Saturday, Nov. 11. It’s a holiday honoring all service members. Nov. 11, 1918, was considered the end of World War I, “the war to end all wars,” and was called Armistice Day. World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, but…
- November 01, 2023As weather turns cold, homeowners and renters can take steps now to save money, save energy and stay warm. The Minnesota Department of Commerce offers resources for home weatherization and energy efficiency. There are easy steps to weatherize and make your home more energy-efficient. Among the low-cost, simple steps for saving energy you could do: Insulate: •Add plastic film over windows…
- October 25, 2023A unique community consortium is debuting Monday, Oct. 30, at Take 16 in Luverne, and all women in Rock County are invited. The Women’s Giving Circle is a long-desired idea that’s coming to life from Luverne Area Community Foundation executive director Emily Crabtree. She wants to bring focus to the barriers faced by the women and children of Rock County by empowering local women to lead the…
- By Sara Wahl, Southwest Crisis Center executive directorOctober 11, 2023Domestic violence affects millions of individuals, families and children — of every race, religion, culture and status every year. It’s not just punches and black eyes — it’s yelling, humiliation, stalking, manipulation, coercion, threats and isolation. It’s stealing a paycheck, keeping tabs online, non-stop texting, constant use of the silent treatment, or calling someone stupid so often they…
- By Sue Abderholden, Director, the Minnesota Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental IllnessOctober 04, 2023The first week of October is Mental Illness Awareness Week. While we need to learn and talk about mental illnesses all year round, this week is dedicated to raising awareness, fighting discrimination, and connecting people to resources. This year’s theme is “Together We Care. Together We Share.” The U.S. Surgeon General released a report earlier this year on loneliness. In it he wrote, “People…
- By U.S. Senator Amy KlobucharSeptember 13, 2023The cost of prescription drugs has been too high for too long, and it’s hurt Americans’ health and bank accounts. Medicines don’t work if people can’t afford them. For far too many people, high drug prices can force difficult choices like whether to ration meds or food or not pay the electric bill during a hot summer. This is true even for seniors covered by Medicare. But after years of…
- September 06, 2023Calling for help is an important skill for children to develop, but dialing 911 can be challenging or confusing for them. In a recent study, none of the kindergarten and first-grade students tested could dial 911 and report an emergency, and only 16 percent of second- and third-grade students were successful with the same task. Children need these skills because sometimes they might be the…
- September 01, 2023As students head back to school, we urge motorists to slow down and stay alert, and we urge families with children to talk about safety. This time of year is particularly dangerous with young inexperienced drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists who will all share the road in the early morning and afternoon hours. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers these tips to help keep…
- August 22, 2023To stop impaired driving from endangering lives as people enjoy the end of summer, troopers, deputies and officers will team up for a DWI enforcement campaign Aug. 18-Sept. 4. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) coordinates the campaign with funding provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Impaired is impaired, regardless of the…
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